Shloka 16

Bhu-maṇḍala-varṇanam

Description of the Earth-Maṇḍala, the Seven Continents, and Meru

Devanagari script

महागज प्रमाणानि जम्ब्वास्तस्याः फलानि च । पतंति भूभृतः पृष्ठे शीर्य्यमाणानि सर्वतः

Transliteration

mahāgaja pramāṇāni jambvāstasyāḥ phalāni ca | pataṃti bhūbhṛtaḥ pṛṣṭhe śīryyamāṇāni sarvataḥ

Translation

Buah pohon jambu itu sebesar gajah raksasa; ketika masak dan terbelah, buah-buah itu jatuh ke permukaan bumi ke segala arah.

Word by Word

• महागज: like great elephants
• महागज: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महागज (प्रातिपदिक) = महा + गज
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Plural; adjective)

• प्रमाणानि: measures; sizes
• प्रमाणानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Neuter, Nominative, Plural)

• जम्ब्वाः: of the jambu(-tree)
• जम्ब्वाः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जम्बू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Plural)

• तस्याः: of it/of that (tree)
• तस्याः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (Feminine, Genitive, Singular; pronoun)

• फलानि: fruits
• फलानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Neuter, Nominative, Plural)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पतन्ति: fall
• पतन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (Present indicative, 3rd person plural, Parasmaipada)

• भूभृतः: of the mountain (earth-bearer)
• भूभृतः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूभृत् (प्रातिपदिक) = भू + भृत्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Singular)

• पृष्ठे: on the back/surface
• पृष्ठे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Neuter, Locative, Singular)

• शीर्यमाणानि: being shattered/decaying
• शीर्यमाणानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शीॄ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक कर्मणि कृदन्त (शानच्/यमान), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Present passive participle, Neuter Nom Pl)

• सर्वतः: from all sides; everywhere
• सर्वतः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Jambu tree

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It emphasizes the vast, ordered cosmos in which embodied beings (paśu) live under limitation (pāśa); recognizing the immensity of creation supports vairāgya and turns the mind toward Pati—Lord Shiva—as the transcendent ground beyond cosmic scale.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By portraying the grandeur of the manifested universe, the text implicitly contrasts the measurable cosmos with Shiva’s worshipful presence as the Liṅga—Saguna for devotion and Nirguna in essence—through whom the entire manifest order is sustained and transcended.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use the contemplation of cosmic vastness as a dhyāna-support while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating detachment from worldly magnitude and steady devotion toward Shiva.